Monocycle



(Nn Model.) 4 sheetssheet 1.

J. D. MATTISON. MONOGYGLE.

No. 479,825. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

J. D. MATTISUN.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

MONOGYGLE.

PatentedAU-lg. z', 1892..

(No Model.) t 4Sheets-Sheet 3. J. D. MATTISON.

MoNoGYGLB. No. 479,825. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

.1.1). MATTISON. MONOGYGLB.

No. 479,825. Patented Aug. 2.1892.

. ,fl o u i 4 I W'/fs 6'.' nz/ezzvr 4 War-wey' UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. MATTISON, OF SAGINAIV, MICHIGAN.

MONOCYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,825, dated August 2, 1892.

Application tiled September 25, 1891. Serial No. 406,795. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JAMES D. MATTISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, (East Side,) in the county of-Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monocycles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in monocycles; and it has for its general object to provide a monocycle embodying such a construction that the same may be driven either by an electric motor carried thereby or by the rider through the medium of the usual pedal-levers.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects the invention consists in the peculiar construction, certain novel combinations, and adaptation of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved monocycle in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, a portion of thetraveling wheel being broken away to further theillustration of the parts. Fig. 3 is a det-ail perspective view of a portion of the carriageframe. Fig.- -it is a detail vertical transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line X X of Fig. l, illustrating a portion of the traveling wheel, gearing, and carriageframe. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective, partly in section, of a portion of the traveling wheel. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of a portion of vthe turning head and lever, the rack-bar, and

the latch for engaging said bar and locking the turning head and lever. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of the battery-casing and toolbox, together with a portion of the carriageframe upon which the same are mounted. Fig. 8 is a plan View of a portion of theguidebars, the swiveled guide-wheel, and the arms connected to the head of said wheel, whereby the same may be readily turned; and Fig. 9 is a view of a modification of the carriageframe and guide-wheel with parts broken away.

Referring by letter and ligure to said drawings, A indicates the traveling Wheel of myimproved monocycle, which comprises the tire B, the tire seat C, and the inner rim or web D, upon which the carriage-frame bears,as will be presentlyT pointed out. The seat-section C is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal in such a manner as to afford parallel flanges a to receive the outer edges of the connecting-plates E, which are fastened to said tire-seat by bolts or rivets, and are provided at their inner edges with lateral flanges b, which take into the recesses formed by bending the rim D upon itself, whereby it will be perceived that a strong connection is afforded between the tire-seat and `the rim and a Wheel of light, strong, and durable `construction provided.

Bearing upon the face of the rim D of the wheel is a friction drive-wheel F, having a rubber or felt tire c and provided with the integral sprocket-wheels G and H, as illustrated in Fig. 4t, the large one being designed to receive the sprocket-belt when the electric motor is employed and the small one to 'receive the belt when the cycle is driven by the ordinary pedals.

The shaft I, upon which the friction-wheel F is mounted, is journaled in vertically-1nov able bearings J, which are mounted in the guide-castings K, and are backed in their upper side with coiled springs, as L,Which take up the motionof the traveling wheel and render the carriage easy and comfortable to the rider.

The guide-castings K, which are connected by an arch-casting d, (better illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings,) are rigidly connected at their lower ends to the curvilinear bars or tubes M. These bars or tubes M surround the friction-wheel F, and their forward ends come together and take into a socket branch e of a casting, presently to be described, and their rear ends come together and merge into a single curvilinear bar N,which takes through and supports the battery-casing P and the Y tool-box R, and is provided at its upper end with bifurcated branches S, upon the ends of which are journaled friction guide-rollers T, which bear against the side edges of the wheel-rim D and serve to prevent casual lateral play of the carriage-frame.

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in the bifurcated bran ches S of the curvilinearV bar is an auxiliary friction-wheel U, which bears upon "the rim D of the wheel Ain a plane at right angles to the rollers T and serves, in conjunction withanother frictionwheel, presently to be described, to properly balance the carriage-frame vertically.

The casting V, into the socket branch c of which the forward connected ends of the bars are sheathed, is provided adjacent'and at approximate right angles to said branch e with another socket-branch fto receive one end of a bowed bar WV, which takes through the archcasting d, and is connected at opposite ends to the rear curvilinear bar N, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings.

As better illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the casting V is provided at its forward end with a socket branch g to receive the rear end of .the forward curvilinear bar N, which is similarin form to the rearbar N, and is provided at its upper end with bifurcated bran ches S, carrying guide and friction wheels T and U, and is also preferably provided with a lamp, as 7L, which is suitably mounted upon the friction-wheel.

Preferably formed integral with the casting V are legs or depending branches X, which straddle the rim D of the wheel and carry safety-wheels Y at their lower ends, which engage the edges of the said rim and areprovided with peripheral flanges, as t', which serve to prevent the disengagement of said wheels from the rim. Pivotally connected to the lower ends of the legs X and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom are levers Z, in the forward ends of which are journaled forked bearings Z, which carry the safety and brake wheels A', which serve, when adjusted in contact with the ground, to retard the speed of the machine. Pivotally connected to one of the levers Z, between the fulcrum point and rear end thereof, is a rearwardly-extending bar m, which is connected at an intermediate point in its length to a hanger n, connected at its upper end to the rear curvilinear bar N and carrying at its lower end a guide-wheel p for a similar purpose as the guide-wheel Y before described. Journaled at the rear end of the bar m is a pivot-post n, which has its lower portion bifurcated to afford a bearing for the guide-wheel B', which governs the direction of the large wheel A.

The casting V is provided upon its upper side with parallel ears C', which are provided with journal-apertures s to receive a transverse pin D', which is keyed or feathered in the lower rectangular portion E' of the turning head or lever which is connected to the upper portion F' of the lever in a swiveled manner, whereby it will be seen `that the said upper portion, which is provided with a handle-bar G', may be readily turned without impairing the use of the head as a lever. Fixedly connected to the ends of the pin D' and extending rearwardly therefrom are the arms H', which have their rear ends connectedvto the rear ends of the levers Z, whereby it will be seen that when the lever is pushed forward from the riders seat the safety-wheels A' will be thrown into contact with the ground and the speed of the traveling wheel retarded. Formed integral with or tixedly connected to the upper portion F' of the turning head or lever is a sleeve or collar I', which is provided with laterally and downwardly extending branches J', which are connected to fixed lateral branches K' upon the turning post n of the guide-wheel B' by connecting-rods L', whereby it will be perceived that when the handle-bar G' is turned the wheel B' will be turned to guide the large wheel A.

Journaled in the forward portion of the casting V is a crank-shaft M', which is provided at its ends with pedal-levers N' and carries a large sprocket-wheel P' and a small sprocket-wheel Q', which are designed to be alternately connected by a sprocket-belt R with the small and large sprocket-gears, respectively, of the friction-wheel F.

Connecting the forward and rear curvilinear bars N and the bowed bar W are bracebars S', connected to the forward one of which and to the forward curvilinear bar is a rackbar T', which is designed to be engaged by a spring-latch U', connected to a sleeve G', loosely mounted upon the upper portion F' of the turning head or lever, whereby it will be seen that said head may be locked to prevent its forward and rearward movement without' interferingwithits upperportionbeingturned.

V' indicates the saddle of my improved cycle, which is suitably mounted upon the usual angle-iron, as W', which is adjustably fixed in a bearing at the intersection of the arch-casting d and the bowed bar W.

When an electric motor is employed to drive my improved cycle, the batteries are placed in the casing P and are suitably connected with the motor X', which is suitably mounted upon a platform connected to and extending forwardly from the carriage-frame, as illustrated, and motion is transmitted from the motor to the shaft on which the sprocketwheels are mounted by a rotatable shaft t', carrying a beveled pinion u at its rear end to engage a beveled gear-wheel c', which when the motor is employed is fixed on the IOC IIO

crank-shaft M', from which motion is trans- Y mitted to the friction drive-wheel F, as before described. A

When the cycle is driven through the medium of the ordinary pedal-levers, the battools or other suitable implements I have provided a boX or tool-chest d', arranged alongf side the battery-chamber and chest, as shown.

The casting V is provided at a suitable point with two ears or lugs c', in which is pivoted a brake-lever f. This brake-lever, as better shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, has its rear end curved downwardly and is designed in practice to bey pressed against the inner rim of the main wheeland is provided with lateral projections g to receive the feet of the operator when it is desirable to operate the brake-lever referred to. This brake-lever has its forward end projecting beyond the the opposite sides of the band, respectively,V

thereby allowing the main Wheel to freely turn with but very little resistance, the bearings of the respective rollers being planed so as to afford but little friction to sustain the parts. It will also be seen that I have provided a comfortable and easy seat for the operator and a means for properly bracing and sustaining the main wheel when the Inachine is not in motion.

By special reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings it will be seen that I have provided the carriage-frame with a branch or arm il, having an eye 2, which extends beyond the peripheryof the main wheel, and passing through this vertical eye 2 is the post 3 of the guidewheel 4. This post is braced at its top by a brace 5, and is provided at a suitable point with a horizontally-extending branch 6, and this branch is pivotally connected with a similar branch 7 on a vertically-disposed post S by means of a rod 9, and the lower end of the post 7is provided with another arm or branch lO, which is connected with one end of a rod 11, and this rod is in turn connected with the guide-lever. The branch or brace 12, which supports the seat, is preferably provided with a T-coupling 13, and through the vertical branches of the T the post 8 is designed to pass. The guide-wheel 4 may be arranged at any suitable height from the ground and :may be conveniently manipulated by the guiding-lever.

WhileI have shown and described chainwheels and chains for imparting motion to the machine, yet it is obvious that the power may be obtained bythe use of friction-wheels, if desired.

I-Iaving described my invention, lwhat Iv claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. The combination,with a Wheel, of a frame sustained therein, a base roller-frame vertically adjustable with respect to the wheel, a semi-rotatable bar connected with a handlebar, and rods connecting said semi-rotatable bar withwheels of theroller-frames so as to guide the same, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a Wheel,of a frame sustained therein, the rack-bar, the upright pivoted handle-post, the two vertically-adjustable rollers A', and levers connecting the saine with the handle-post, the sleeve on said handle-post having the curved arms, the steering wheels or rollers, the levers pivotally connecting the same with the handle-post, and theV guide-rods connecting said Wheels with. the sleeve on the handle-post, substantially as specified.

3. In a monocycle, the combinatiomwith a Wheel, of a suitable frame sustained therein, a pivoted post, a forked sleeve arranged on said post, guide-wheels, rods connecting said guide-wheels with the branches of the sleeve, and a suitable handle for manipulating the post, substantially as specified.

4. The wheel composed of the tire-seat secand having separated parallelbranches on its inner side, the section D, having the lapped edges, and the connecting-web having oneV edge received in the lapped portions of the section D and the opposite edge or edges secured between the parallel flanges of the tireseatsection to serve substantially as specied.

5.' In a monocycle, the combination, with a wheel having an inner band, of a vframe sustained therein, a drive-wheel yieldingly sustained in said frame and adapted to engage the inner band of the wheel, said Wheel also having one or more ratchet-Wheels, an endless belt or chain, and suitable means for impart` ing motion to the same, substantially as specified.

6. In a monocycle, the combination, with a wheel, of the frame sustained therein by friction-rollers, the hanger-frame having vertical guideways and carrying a seat, the springbacked bearing arranged' in said ways, the shaft sustained in the bearings, a drive-wheel fixed to said shaft and having one or more sprocket-Wheels formed thereon, and a felt or other suitable ring set in the face of the drive'- wheel and adapted to contact with the inner band of the main wheel, and means for imparting motion to the main wheel, substantially as speciiied.

7. In a monocycle, the combination, with a wheel having an inner friction-band, as described, of a frame arranged therein and fric- 1 tion bent to form the circumferential tire-seat 95 IIO tion-rollers for engagingthe inner and outer 

